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Brother killed. Need advice on Disbursal Sale.

BEREFT

New member
My brother was killed on 7 June.

He was haying for a friend and moving equipment on the road. A 20 year old woman crossed the center line and hit his tractor head on. He didn't have a chance.

I need your advice.

My brother ran our commercial operation for more than 35 years and lived with our aged parents. He was the only employee.. We sold grass fed beef by hanging weight. Our animals are mostly angus, with some herford and a little devon. I can't winter all these animals. I am looking to sell 40 calves (about half), 40 stockers (about half) and 40 bred heifers (100%). We've got someone to winter the calves and stockers. I figure wintering 90 cows is not that much more work than wintering 40. So we'll wait on selling the cows. We're in mid-New York state about 160 miles south of Canada.

Any advice you could give me on selling these animals would be appreciated. Since we're a beef producer our records on these animals are limited. And we are not used to selling live animals. Having an auction is out. Also having people in to buy one or 2 is out. Until my brother was killed I hadn't sat a tractor in 30 years. I left the farm that long ago to get a regular job. I've got a damned good manager on board. To sell ALL the animals would kill my father.

We were a top notch operation with GREAT looking animals. But again I don't have any experience in selling animals especially in this quantity.

Any ideas you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely

BEREFT
 

leanin' H

Well-known member
Sure sorry about the tragic loss of your brother. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family. I'd visit with neighboring ranchers who know the quality of the livestock ya'll produce. They may be interested in picking up all or part. I would also lean on your manager if he/she is a trusted and experienced cattle person. You may look into putting them onto the internet through Stampede or another cattle sales service. It gets your cattle out in front of prospective buyers, but does come with costs. Most of all, I wish you well in what has to be a difficult time.
 

Justin

Well-known member
sorry to hear of your loss. like H said, let those that know the cattle, know that they are for sale. if you can't get them sold privately, you can always take them to the salebarn. just be sure to wait for a special sale(bred cattle, feeders, etc.) get them consigned early so the barn can get them advertised. good cattle always are always easy to sell.
best of luck.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Both H and Justin have given you good, sound advice, IMO.
It had to be tough to lose a loved one like that.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family,
bereft.

And good luck to you, I mean that sincerely.
 

per

Well-known member
Condolences. Are there any operators in the community running a similar operation? A partnership could work to keep the business running in a similar fashion allowing your parents to continue to participate.
 

Clarencen

Well-known member
About 18 years ago I was in about the samesiruation as you are in. I know how hard it is to make decesions like you have. My brother was killed in a farm accident, then my mother died about 2 months later. My brother and I were in a partnership, my mothermalso had some interest in it. While I did have several years business experience, I found it hard to make decessions by myself. I kept our operation going about like it was for 8 or 9 months then sold 1/2 of the cattle that belonged to the estate. I sold at the sale barn so there was no question about establishing a price.

There are a lot of questions about your situation I do not know, but I would believe you would have to be appointed as administrater of your brother's estate before you could sell anything. Get a lawyer you can trust. Sometimes some lawyers will try to tie your hands and make things difficult for you
 

BEREFT

New member
Thank you for your advice. Unfortunately here in mid New York there are only about 3 outfits our size (400 animals). All of them were grazing animals for my brother. I'm starting to put together a list so I can send all the people he dealt with notification of the sale.

I was just wondering if there was a way to broker animals that I didn't know about.

I'm going to talk with 2 cattle auction houses in the next 2 days. These animals were my brother's life work - 35 years of ruthless and relentless culling. God save me,but I'd rather have them ground up than see them auctioned off next to wreckage with johne's. or hardware or scours.

Thank you for your thoughts and proayers in this difficult time. You don't really realize how many good people there are out there until you go through something like this.

This is what the state legislature had to say about my brother http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/J6254

Thanks
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
BEREFT said:
Thank you for your advice. Unfortunately here in mid New York there are only about 3 outfits our size (400 animals). All of them were grazing animals for my brother. I'm starting to put together a list so I can send all the people he dealt with notification of the sale.

I was just wondering if there was a way to broker animals that I didn't know about.

I'm going to talk with 2 cattle auction houses in the next 2 days. These animals were my brother's life work - 35 years of ruthless and relentless culling. God save me,but I'd rather have them ground up than see them auctioned off next to wreckage with johne's. or hardware or scours.

Thank you for your thoughts and proayers in this difficult time. You don't really realize how many good people there are out there until you go through something like this.

This is what the state legislature had to say about my brother http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/J6254

Thanks

Your brother was a man very devoted to family and industry. That is a very nice tribute by the state to recognize his contributions.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Sure sorry to hear about your loss. Something to consider would be to approach an agricultural vocational school in your area for advise and assistance. I am sure there is lots of particulars that we don't know about which are unique to your particular area. Perhaps there is a way to give some young man a start in agriculture, keep the herd, and continue to manage them as they were. There might be an Ag production class somewhere that would love to assist you in your cattle operation and learn from the experience. The Vo Ag class also adds the element of accountability since it would be overseen by the entire class. Might be worth a try before selling the herd down.


~SH~
 

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